Page:The Proletarian Revolution in Russia - Lenin, Trotsky and Chicherin - ed. Louis C. Fraina (1918).djvu/410

 all be successful in increasing the number of branches of the People's Bank, in attracting deposits, in making it easier for the public to deposit and withdraw money, in getting rid of the "waiting lines," in discovering and executing the grafters and crooks, etc. We must first actually accomplish the simplest tasks, organize what is already in our possession—and only then prepare for the more complex tasks.

We must improve and regulate the state monopolies (on grain, leather, etc.) which we have already established—and thereby prepare for the state monopolization of foreign trade; without such a monopoly we will not be able to "settle" with foreign capital by the payment of a "tribute." And the possibility of Socialist reconstruction depends on whether we shall be able to protect our internal economic independence during a certain transition period by paying some "tribute" to foreign capital.

We are also extremely backward in the collection of taxes, in general, and of wealth and income taxes, in particular. The levying of contributions on the bourgeoisie—a measure which in principle is undoubtedly acceptable and deserving proletarian approval—shows that we are in this respect still nearer to the methods of conquest (of Russia) from the rich for the poor, than to the methods of management. But, to become stronger and to make our position firm, we must adopt the latter methods, we must substitute for the contribution exacted from the bourgeoisie steady and regularly collected wealth and income taxes, which will give more to the proletarian state and which requires of us greater organization, and better regulated accounting and control.

The delay in introducing obligatory labor service is another proof that the most urgent problem is precisely the preparatory organization work, which, on the one hand, should definitely secure our gains, and, on the other hand, is necessary to prepare the campaign to "isolate capital" and "compel its surrender." The introduction of obligatory labor service should be started immediately, but it should be introduced gradually and with great caution, examining every step in practical experience, and, of course, introducing first of all obligatory labor service for the rich. The introduction of a labor record book and a consumption-budget record book for every bourgeois, including the village bourgeois, would be a serious step forward toward a complete "siege" of the enemy and toward the creation of a really universal accounting and control of production and distribution.